11. Ellipsis

Ellipsis is a punctuation mark that refers to the omission of a word, words, phrase, paragraph or sentence that is not necessary. The sentence can still be understood with the presence of the ellipsis.

The ellipsis is formed by a set of three spaced full-stops/periods. There is also a space before and after the ellipsis. Four full-stops are used if the ellipsis comes at the end of a sentence: three full-stops to indicate an ellipsis followed by a full-stop to indicate the end of the sentence. The ellipsis can occur at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a sentence or clause.

Examples:

Without ellipsis: You might say, "I ate a chicken pie, and she ate just a donut.

With ellipsis: You might say, "I ate a chicken pie, and she just a donut. (The word ate is omitted because it is understood from the context what the speaker means.)

Without ellipsis: She went to the spring sale on Saturday, and her brother went to the spring sale on Sunday.

With ellipsis: She went to the spring sale on Saturday and her brother on Sunday. (The word went to the spring sale was omitted and the sentence can still be understood.

Is that your bag? No, it's Tom's bag.

Is that your bag? No, it's Tom's.(The word bag is omitted as it is understood.)

Ellipsis shows pause, hesitation, or interruption

An ellipsis is used to show a pause, hesitation, or interruption.

Examples:

I’m thinking … well, never mind … you can go on your own.

I . . . I’m not sure I want to go along with you all.

“The security guard said I could not enter wearing sandals.” “ Then you …?”

Ellipsis within quotation or with question mark.

Examples:

“I’m waiting . . . “ Joe said, but stopped suddenly.

“If you are not going to marry him, are you not going to . . .”?

Ellipsis at end of quotation

When a quotation ends with an ellipsis, the ellipsis of three full-stops is followed by a sentence full-stop – that is, four full-stops altogether. There will be no space before the first or after the last full-stop.

Examples:

“The soldier was shot through the head by a sniper's. . . .“

“They had to abandon the match. . . .“

Ellips is used in long quote.

If a quote is too long, the words that are unnecessary may be omitted and replaced with an ellipsis.

Examples:

"Our plan for the summer was to climb the mountain. We had a long discussion about it days before the climb, and a week later we all agreed to cancel the plan.

"Our plan for the summer was to climb the mountain. We had a long discussion about it . . . and . . . all agreed to cancel the plan."